Daniel Chapter 5/Commentary

Daniel Chapter 5

The events recorded in Daniel chapters 1-4 happened during the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, who expanded and united the Babylonian Empire. Nebuchadnezzar died in 562 B.C. after ruling 43 years. In the years that followed, the Babylonian Empire was marked by progressive deterioration, intrigue, and murder. Nebuchadnezzar was succeeded by his son Evil-Merodach who ruled for only two years (562-560 B.C.). He was murdered in August of 560 by Nebuchadnezzar’s son-in-law, Neriglissar, who then ruled four years (560-556 B.C.). He is the Nergal-Sharezer mentioned in Jeremiah 39:3,13. At his death he was succeeded by his young son Labashi-Marduk, who ruled for only two months and was assassinated and succeeded by Nabonidus, who reigned 17 years (556-539 B.C.). Nabonidus did much to restore the glory that had belonged to Babylon, yet he was absent from Babylon for 10 of his 17 years. Belshazzar was Nabonidus’ eldest son and was appointed co-regent; this explains why Belshazzar was called king (5:1) and why he exercised kingly authority even though Nabonidus actually held the throne. For a long time critics of the Bible had argued that no secular document mentioned Belshazzar and this was true up until about 100 years ago, but since then archaeological discoveries in Babylon have yielded tablets confirming the accuracy of Daniel chapter 5.

Belshazzar was a real person, he was the king’s son, and he was made coregent while his father stayed in Arabia.

5:1 “Belshazzar the king held a great feast for a thousand of his nobles”: Babylon, at this time, was also under attack by the Persian army. Perhaps the feast was given to show Belshazzar’s contempt for the Persians and to allay his people’s fears. Archeologists have excavated a large hall in Babylon that measures 55 feet wide and 165 feet long. Belshazzar apparently considered his city secure from assault because of its massive walls. Within the city were supplies that would sustain it for 20 years. The name “Belshazzar” means, “Bel (another name for the Babylon deity Marduk) has protected the king”, yet as we read the chapter we will discover that such a name was only a false confidence.

5:2 “Nebuchadnezzar his father”: The term “father” here is used in the sense of ancestor or forefather. Only seven years separated the death of Nebuchadnezzar and the arrival of Nabonidus to the throne, and he may have married a young widowed wife of Nebuchadnezzar and then adopted Belshazzar as his heir. “He gave orders to bring the gold and silver vessels which Nebuchadnezzar his father had taken out of the temple which was in Jerusalem”: These vessels had been taken at the same time that Daniel and his friends had been taken 1

(Daniel 1:1-3), about 605 B.C. This was an act of defiance against the God of the Jews. Some think that Belshazzar may have been attempting to strengthen the Babylonian religion and undo the influence of Nebuchadnezzar’s honoring the God of Israel (Daniel 4:34-35). The mentioned of the wives and his concubines is significant, for in Babylonia, women were invited to such drinking bouts.

5:3-4 “And praised the gods of gold and silver”: People do and say foolish things when they combine unbelief and alcohol. McGuiggan notes, “What fools they are. We’d never stoop to such. We’d never become enamored with our abilities and talents and forget the Giver of all?

We’d never worship wives, husbands, children, families, possessions—now would we?” (p. 85).

5:5 “Suddenly the fingers of a man’s hand emerged and began writing”: God does have a vivid imagination! Of all the ways to get the attention of the king and stop the party!

5:6 “His knees began knocking together”: “He shows off before his wives, lords, and concubines, and then he shows them what he really was. And all he had seen was the part of a man’s hand. What if he had seen the face of God? If such a tiny manifestation of God’s power did so much, what of all of it? What then of the coming judgment day?” (p. 85) (1 Thessalonians 4:16).

5:7 Unable to sit down because of his shaking, hardly able to stand because of his overpowering fear, the king screams (literally, with excessive loudness). “Bring in the conjurers”: More helpless and useless advisors. It appears that each generation of unbelievers must learn the hard way for myths that may have been dealt with by one generation reappear to tempt the next generation (Judges 2:10-11). “Third ruler of the kingdom”: That is, after Nabonidus, and himself.

5:8 “But they could not read the inscription”: Should we be surprised? And where was Daniel? He had been forgotten due to the troubles that followed the death of Nebuchadnezzar?

Had he been pushed into the background by jealous conjurers?

5:10-12 “The queen entered”: The queen here might have been the queen mother, seeing that all the wives of Belshazzar were already at the banquet. The woman speaks with remarkable dignity and self-possession; in addition, she shows an intimate knowledge of the abilities of Daniel, for these reasons this queen may have been the widow of Nebuchadnezzar. Notice the lofty terms that she uses when talking about Daniel.

5:13 “Are you that Daniel?” Belshazzar may even have heard of Daniel long before this, but indulging himself in sinful activities, he may have never taken the trouble to consult him. Yet Belshazzar remembered his Babylonian military history, the very God he had been mocking.

Now one of this God’s servants stands before him, being the only man who can help him.

5:17 “Keep your gifts for yourself, and give your rewards to someone else”: This is not insolence on the part of Daniel, but rather Daniel is merely stating that he will read the writing 2

for free. His refusal of such gifts also makes it clear that come what may, he is determined to tell the truth no matter what the inscription says or means. Yet Daniel is plain and bold, qualities that we need today as well (Ephesians 6:19; 2 Corinthians 3:12).

5:18-22 Daniel proceeds to give Belshazzar a brief history of God’s dealings with the great Nebuchadnezzar, which once against emphasizes the truth that “the Most High God is ruler over the realm of mankind, and that He sets over it whomever He wishes” (5:21). “Even though you knew all this”: Belshazzar is doubly condemned seeing that he knew all about how God had humbled Nebuchadnezzar yet he had proceeded to act even more foolishly and arrogantly than the former king. Note, though the facts of Nebuchadnezzar’s insanity may have been hidden from the populace they were known by the royal family. It is one thing to sin; it is another thing to see others face the consequences and then go on ahead and sin.

5:23 “But you have exalted yourself against the Lord”: When will people learn? Does not Pharaoh’s performance startle us as we read it in the Exodus? Do not the Israelites scare us when we read of their endless murmurings against God? How about Ananias and Sapphira, struck dead for trying to fool God’s people? If God does not like His vessels being abused, then what about His name? What about His worship and His church? Note that even pagan kings are held as being morally responsible by God. This king is condemned for insulting God by abusing the vessels associated with His temple, worshipping false gods, and being arrogant.

Notice the comment concerning all other gods, “which do not see, hear, or understand” (5:23).

This is still true to this day. In our world of pluralism we need to remember that the gods of Hinduism, the new age movement, Mormonism, and so on, “do not see, hear, or understand”.

5:23 “But the God in whose hand are your life-breath and your ways, you have not glorified”: False religion is not just another road to heaven. Be impressed that God does not endorse the popular notion that people in all the different religions are really only worshipping the same God just under different names or images. When Belshazzar was worshipping his Babylon gods, the true God was not being worshipped, rather He was being insulted. “Nothing is more absolute than the power which God holds over the breath of men, yet there is nothing which is less recognized than that power, and nothing which men are less disposed to acknowledge than their dependence on Him for it” (Barnes). It is not enough to be religious, rather, one must glorify the true God, one must actually worship Him in the way that He desires. Notice the play on words, the gods being worshipped had no life, but the true God held the king’s “life” in His hand. Do we realize that God holds our life in His hand, that our lives are that fragile?

5:24-25 “MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN”: (MEE neh, MEE neh, TEK uhl, ue FAR sin). The term “mene” means to number and “tekel” means to weigh and “upharsin” means torn, or divided. Belshazzar is told the days of his kingdom have been numbered and have run their course; that he has been put on God’s balance, weighed, and found too light; and that his kingdom would be torn apart by the Medes and the Persians who are even now approaching the gate under the leadership of Cyrus. Belshazzar’s character, his moral values and spiritual worth, had been evaluated and he was found to be deficient.

3

Lessons 1. God does determine the moral fitness of empires and nations. He does “weigh” administrations and cultures in His moral and spiritual balances (Jeremiah 18; Proverbs 14:34; Psalms 9:17 “Even all the nations who forget God”).

2. The rise or decline of a culture or nation depends upon its moral fitness and God can and does bring nations to an end (Acts 17:26).

3. God can bring judgment quietly and swiftly. The judgment in the palace that night was silent! There was no noise of thunder, nor devouring fire from heaven. Judgment can come in quietness.

4. Everyone is accountable to God. “God comes not only to the ghettos and hovels—He judges royalty and the people of the upper crust. All will give an account to God (Isaiah 14:10,16)” (McGuiggan p. 88).

5. God can bring the lives of the worlds most powerful, to an end in a moment. “And it was a decisive judgment. He was slain and ushered into the eternal night to meet the One he so insolently defied!” (p. 88).

The city had been under assault by Cyrus, in anticipation of a long siege the city had stored supplies to last for 20 years. The Euphrates River ran through the city from north to south, so the residents had an ample water supply. The Persians captured the city by building a canal to divert the River Euphrates into a nearby lake, with the water diverted, its level receded and the Persian soldiers were able to enter the city under the sluice gate. Since the walls were unguarded, the Persians, once inside the city, were able to conquer it without a fight. The overthrow of Babylon took place October 12th, 539 B.C.

4